Position selector



May 14, 1940 J. A. RAMOS 2,200,679

POSITION SELECTOR Filed March 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORT JOSEPH A. RAMOS.

ATTORNEYS.

y 1940- J. A. RAMOS 2.200.679

POSITION SELECTOR Filed March 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Hlllllllll I IN VEN TOR JOSEPH A. RAMOS.

May 14, 1940.

J. A. RAMOS POSITION SELECTOR Filed March 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mlllllllllllll J INVENTOR, JOSEPH A. RAMOS.

- ATTORNEYS.

May 14, 1940.

J. A. RAMOS POSITION SELECTOR Filed March 25; 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR, JOSEPH A. RAMOS. BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE Application March 25,

11 Claims.

My invention relates to position selectors, and more particularly to such a device which can be used for selective step tuning of radio circuits, such as, for example, radio receivers.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application entitled Position selector, Serial No. 172,228, filed November 1, 1937.

Among the objects of my invention are: To provide a step by step position selector wherein a 360 contact are is provided with a arc of rotation; to provide a means and method of utilizing a 360 contact arc with a 180 shaft rotation in a position selector; to provide a means and method of utilizing a position selector'to include an on and off switch; to provide a position selector utilizing remote control; to provide a position selector utilizing a reversing motor; to provide a simple, accurate and fast position selector, ideally adapted for use in radio receivers; and to provide a position selector embodying a band shift.

My invention possesses numerous other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of specific apparatus embodying and utilizing my novel method. It is therefore to be understood that my method is applicable to other apparatus, and that I do not limit myself, in any way, to the apparatus of the present application, as I may adopt various other apparatus embodiments, utilizing the method, within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view, partially diagrammatic, showing the relationship of the position selector of my invention to the remainder of a radio receiving set.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one preferred form of my invention, taken as indicated by the line 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotating disc, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the position selector, showing the push button arrangement and indicating. hand.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of a push button assembly, as utilized in the device of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the devices shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a modification of my invention, as used for remote control.

Fig. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram applied 1938', Serial No. 198,038

with a reversing motor, wherein a divided conductorwas used, the motor locking when the push button contact made electrical connection to both sectors of the divided conductor. The present invention is a modification and improvement on the former device, in that it provides for 360 location of the push buttons, with only 180 rotation of the operating shaft. My present invention also provides for remote control with the same 360 spacing of station selector con-' tacts.

My invention, however, may be more fully understood by direct reference to the drawings, wherein all devices show a lesser number of push buttons or equivalent contacts than might be used in actual practice. A larger number in the drawings would be mere duplication, and it is therefore only necessary to show a suflicient number to demonstrate the operability of the device.

The essential features of my invention comprise a tuning motor I, a selecting assembly 2, and a tuning condenser 3. This assembly may be applied to any radio set, schematically represented by chassis 4 in Fig. 1.

Tuning condenser 3 is provided with an extended shaft 5 on which is mounted a worm gear 6 meshing with a Worm l, driven through flexilole shaft 8 by motor Assembly case 9 is stabilized in any convenient manner, and contains a rotating disc Ill on which is mounted a continuous ring I I and a split ring divided into right ring section I4 and left ring sector [2. Insulator l3 keeps these members electrically separate. The ends of these sectors abut but do nottouch, and I prefer to provide notches [5 in one corner of each sector at its end, adjacent notches cooperating with a ring notch IE, to form a contact receptacle.

Ring sectors (2 and M are spaced slightly from continuous ring H to provide a narrow channel I! alined with the contact receptacles. Case 9 is provided with a front face I9, preferably of insulating material, and shaft 5 is extended the push button assemblies.

through this front face to carry an indicating hand 20 operating over a station chart 2|.

Immediately outside of the arc of rotation of indicator 2B are positioned a series of push button assemblies 22, spaced around 360. These push button assemblies are shown in detail in Fig. 5. The inner end of each push button assembly is provided with a contact point 25 positioned just above channel H, and of a size to readily fit in notches l5, but small enough to clear ring notch 16.

Contact 25 bears against the inner wall of sliding sleeve 25, the opposite end being closed by cone 21. Contact 25 is held within sleeve 26 by shoulder 29, and is held thereagainst by contact spring 33. Sleeve 25 is movable in push button frame 31 and restrained by sleeve spring 33. The frames 3| are mounted in conductive sector 32 in a slot 34. The conductive sectors 32 are slightly less than half circles, and electrically separate. Push button frames 3| are movable in slot 34 if forced against the friction developed by push button frame spring 6-35, the tension of this spring being adjusted by spring nut Thus, within reasonable limits, the arouate positions of each push button assembly may be adjusted in slot 34.

Each push button assembly 22 is operated by push button ll extending through the front face 99, and push button 46, at the rear, is provided with a planar operating surface M of greater extent than cone 2?, so that irrespective of minor variations in position of cone 2?, the assembly will still be operative upon pressure exerted on push button 40.

In utilizing this type of device, I prefer to use a circuit such as shown in Fig. 6. Here, an induction motor is preferably utilized, although any reversing motor having double reversing windings may be employed.

In the form of motor shown, the main field is provided by a continuous winding 58 on the middle of core 52, one end of the winding being attached to one leg 5i of the main supply, and the other end being attached to common wire 54. Over field winding 58 is wound an additional field winding having a center tap 55 attached to common wire 54, the opposite ends 5'! and 5801 this winding being attached to sectors 32 hearing Common wire 54 also connects to center tap 59 of a double crescent winding wound around one side of split poles 6!. The ends of the crescent winding are connected to sector rings l2 and 14 respectively. Continuous ring H is connected to the other leg 82 of the main supply.

In operation, any one of the buttons 40 may be pushed. Pressure is applied against cone 2?, which forces barrel 25 toward disc it. Contact 25 will thereupon approach channel I! and make contact simultaneously with continuous ring I l and one or the other of sectors S2 or 14. The motor will thereupon be energized in one direction, and the shaft will rotate until a ring notch I6 is reached. The normal distance between contact 25 and the rotating rings is less than the permissible travel of barrel 26, so that spring 30 is slightly compressed and contact 25 is away from shoulder 29. However, when contact 25 reaches a point just above adjacent notches [5 the motor will stop, due to the fact that at this point no contact will be made to ring ll due to clearance of notch IE5, and mechanical latch I 3 will center the disc. Pressure is then withdrawn from push button ill, contact 25 Withdraws from notches l5 and latch l3, due to the urge of the push button assembly return spring, and the attached tuning condenser 3 remains in the selected position.

Upon operation of any other push button, the same operation occurs. Each time the disc ill will stop in the proper location, and with a different amount of tuning condenser surfaces in capacitative engagement. The exact tuning for each station is accomplished by moving each push button assembly arcuately against the restraint of position springs 36.

It will be noted, however, that I have provided for 360 positioning of the push buttons by utilizing two 180 sectors 32. If a button in the upper sector is pushed, the motor will start in one direction, in accordance with the contact with ring sectors I2 or I 4. However, when the buttons in the lower sector 32 are pushed, the start of the motor is reversed due to the reversal of current through the divided field Winding.

tinuous ring H in conjunction with ring sectors i2 and II, that no current is utilized in the motor except when it is rotating. Furthermore, it should be noted that reliance is not placed upon mechanical. stop to stop the motor, and thus there are no inertia shocks against contact 25. The motor stops instantly, due to the fact that supply current to the motor is completely broken.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a remotely controlled modification of my invention, also utilizing 360 distribution of selector contacts. important portion of the actuating mechanism is shown in Fig. 7. Here, disc l0 carries only ring sectors l2 and I4. Contact 25 is contained in a contact assembly 10, and is permanently forced against one or the other of sectors 12 or It. Each contact assembly is electrically separated and mounted in a contact holder H, of insulating material. Each contact assembly is also provided with an intermediate contact If! on the other side of assembly 10, and this is permanently forced against one of a ring of electrically separated intermediate contact discs 14, each one being provided with a wiring lug 15.

Contact discs 14 are carried by a supporting disc 76 mounted on shaft 5 and free to rotate thereon. The motion of supporting disc 15 is controlled by driving arm 11 having a driving pin 79 thereon, rotating in slot 80 in disc I6, this slot being slightly less than 180 in arc. Thus, at either end of a 180 rotation of shaft 5, disc 15 will be oscillated over a narrow angle, and only at the end of the travel, as determined by the position of pin 19.

The oscillation of disc 16 is also used to control a reversing switch comprising an insulated arm 82, pivoted on pin 83, and engaging in operating notch 84 on the periphery of disc 76. The other end of arm 82 is provided with a switch arm 85 making selective contact with reversing connections 86 of the crescent windings 60 of the motor, as will be explained later.

I also prefer to position on shaft 5 a main switch operating arm 88, which at one end of its 180 travel, hits an operating extension 89 of main switch 90 to separate contacts 9% thereof The iii

and thus remove all current from the device, as will be explained later.

When contact 25 reaches the junction of sectors I2 and it, notches I5 are made large enough to clear contact 25, and I may desire to allow contact 2 5 to fall into a positioning depression 03 in insulator I3.

Referring; directly to Fig. 8 for the operation of the circuit, it will be seen that the motor utilized is identical with the motor described in conjunction with Fig. 6. Contact discs M, in the upper 180 of disc 10, are connected through wires 92 to similar contacts in the lower 180. However, the contact discs in the lower 180 are staggered in relation to those in the upper 180, so that when disc 10 is rotated by pin I9 to one position, the intermediate contacts 12 are in electrical connection with the contact discs M in the upper 180 of disc 16, and when disc I0 is rotated to its other position, the electrical connections in the upper 180 are broken, and made in the lower 180. Thus, the contact discs 10, over the entire 360 circle on supporting disc 1'6, may be utilized to make connection to selected positions within the 180 range of rotation of disc I0.

Connecting lugs 15, over one-half only of contact discs 14 on one 180 are, are connected in order to operating wires I00, each one running to the middle stationary contacts I01 of a series of alined push buttons, each having three stationary contacts. Left hand contacts I02 are all connected together, and connect to one side I04 of the main power transformer I05. Right hand contacts 500 of each push button assembly are all connected together and lead through wire 101 to switch 85, controlling the reversal of field windings 55. Contacts M are in series with the primary of power transformer I05. Thus, when arm 88 contacts operating arm 89, no power can flow in the radio set.

Left hand push button I 10 runs to special contacts l i 1. These are closely adjacent, and one on each side of the dividing line of the 180 segments. These cause the set to be turned ofi, inasmuch as they will rotate arm 88 against operating arm 80 of main switch 00 to open the circuit thereof. The next adjacent button I12 is the band shift button, causing a complete 180 rotation of shaft 5, thus shifting the position of disc '16. Each of the other push buttons, therefore, will represent two separate stations, depending upon the position of disc I0.

The connection of the remainder of the radio set is purely conventional. Power transformer 105 is provided with a filament cathode I20 feeding the tubes of the radio set as exemplified by final power tube I2 I. Output of this power tube passes through output transformer I22 and thence to output speaker I23.

In order, however, that tuning may be accomplished from a position remote from speaker 123, I utilize speaker I2 2 to carry output modulation, by connecting to the operating portion thereof an output line I25, the speaker 124 being located at the remote point from which tuning is done. This speaker may be provided with the usual volume control I20 and tone control I21.

Fig. 10 shows a slight modification of my invention whereby electrical locking is obtained in the final position and this modification of my invention utilizes a slightly different motor than that shown in Fig. 6. In this modification coils equivalent to crescent coils 00 are wound upon separate legs M0 of a central pole piece MI, Whereas both the main field winding 50 and the reversing winding 55 are wound around the main leg I41. Under these circumstances, therefore, in the modification shown in Fig. 6 when the contact 25 reaches the desired position, it breaks contact with continuous ring II and remains in contact with ring sectors 12 and Id. In the modification shown in Fig. 10, however, the contacts are made as shown in Fig. 11, and in this modification contact point 25 breaks all connecticn with both ring sectors 12 and id but remains in contact with continuous ring II in ring notch I0, which in this case is made small enough to accommodate contact point 25 in electrical contact therewith. Under these conditions it will be seen that current is removed entirely from both of the windings equivalent to the crescents and that, therefore, not only does all tendency toward rotation immediately cease because of the equal magnetism of legs M0, but also complete locking of the armature I will take place. Thus in this modification mechanical locking is not relied upon, inasmuch as electrical locking will take place just as soon as contact point 25 leaves either ring sector I2 or Id but remains in contact with continuous ring contact I I.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a remote control device wherein complete control may be had of a radio set at a distance, wherein the radio set may be turned on and off, and wherein twice the number of stations may be obtained than there need be push buttons therefor. Furthermore, I have provided a circuit whereby the action of the remote tuning device may be monitored.

I claim:

1. In combination with an electric motor selectively rotatable in either direction by selective closure of two substantially balanced circuits common to said motor, a position selector comprising a shaft to be rotated, a conductor moved in synchronism with said shaft over a predetermined path, said conductor being divided into two electrically separate divisions with adjacent ends, a connection between each of divisions to a separate one of said circuits, a second and undivided conductor extending adjacent and parallel to said first divided conductor, a plurality of conductive means manually controlled to contact said divided conductor and said undivided conductor simultaneously, a power connection to said undivided conductor, said undivided conductor being notched at the junction of said adjacent ends to clear said conductive means, at that point thereby stopping said motor and a common connection to said conductive means completing the motor circuit.

Apparatus in accordance with. claim l wherein said plurality of conductive means are divided into two groups each group completing the motor circuit through a separate and auxiliary reversing winding on said motor.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductive means are divided into two groups each group completing the motor circuit through a separate and auxiliary reversing winding on said motor, said divided and undivided conductors being circular in shape and wherein the groups of conductive means are in separate 180 arcs.

4. In combination with an electric motor selectivel'y rotatable in either direction by selective closure of two substantially balanced circuits common to said motor, a position selector comprising a shaft to be rotated, a conductor moved in synchronism with said shaft over a ISO predetermined path, said conductor being divided into two electrically separate divisions with adjacent ends, a connection between each of said divisions to a separate one of said circuits, said electrically separate divisions forming a circle, a contact disc free to move on said shaft and having line contacts thereon spaced around 360", the contacts on one sector being staggered with respect to those on the other 180 sector and connected together in their respective positions, a plurality of intermediate contacts spaced around said circle and bearing on said electrical- 1y separate divisions and on one 180 group of line contacts, means mounted on said shaft, shifting said contact disc by an amount sufficient to shift connection of the one 180 group of line contacts to the other, a plurality of lines leading from said line contacts, a plurality of switches manually operable to energize said motor through said line contacts and said electrically separate divisions, and additional means for reversing the connections of said motor whenever said contact disc is shifted.

5, Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein circuit breaking means is operated when said contact disc is shifted in one direction to de-energize said position selector.

6. In a position selecting device, a shaft, 21 motor having a rotor connected to rotate said shaft over 180 only, said motor having two separate sets of reversing windings, contact means spread over 360 for automatically starting and stopping said motor, said contact means being divided into 180 groups both groups being connected to one set of reversing windings in accordance with the arcuate position of the contact means, each of the contact means in each 180 group being connected to an end of the other reversing winding.

7. In combination with an electric motor selectively rotatable in either direction by selective closure of two substantially balanced circuits common to said motor, a position selector comprising a shaft to be rotated, a conductor moved in synchronism with said shaft over a predetermined path, said conductor being divided into two electrically separate divisions with adjacent ends, a connection between each of said divisions to a separate one of said circuits, a second and undivided conductor extending adjacent and parallel to said first divided conductor, a plurality of conducting means manually movable to contact said divided conductor and said undivided conductor simultaneously, a power connection to said undivided conductor, said adjacent ends being notched to clear said conductive means while said conductive means is still in contact with said undivided conductor.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7 wherein said motor is provided with windings connected to said divided conductor causing rotation, and wherein removal of current from both of said windings will cause said motor to lock.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said motor is provided with means causing motor look when said conductive means clears said adjacent ends.

10. In combination with an electric motor selectively rotatable in either direction by selective closure of two substantially balanced circuits common to said motor, a position selector comprising a shaft to be rotated, a circular conductor moving in synchronism with said shaft over a predetermined path, said conductor being divided into two electrically separate substantially semicircular divisions having adjacent ends, a plurality of contact means engageable with either division of said conductor, said contact means being divided into semi-circular groups, a connection between each of said divisions with a respective one of said balanced circuits, whereby connection to the two divisions respectively will cause opposite rotation of said motor, a power supply circuit, means for completing a circuit from said power supply circuit to said motor through a selected one of said contact means, and connections between the respective groups of contact means and said motor whereby energization of individual members of said respective groups will cause said motor to rotate in opposite directions with respect to the division of said conductor energized thereby.

11. In combination with an electric motor selectively rotatable in either direction by selective closure of two substantially balanced circuits common to said motor, a position selector comprising a shaft to be rotated, a circular conductor moving in synchronism with said shaft over a predetermined path, said conductor being divided into two electrically separate substantially semicircular divisions having adjacent ends, a plurality of contact means engageable with either division of said conductor, said contact means being divided into semicircular groups, a connection between each of said divisions with a respective one of said balanced circuits, whereby connection to the two divisions respectively will cause opposite rotation of said motor, a power supply circuit, means for completing a circuit from said power supply circuit to said motor through a selected one of said contact means, and means for connecting the respective groups to said motor so that energization of individual members of said respective groups will cause opposite rotation of said motor when contacting the same division of said circular conductor.

JOSEPH A. RAlVIOS. 

